Front Diff Tech 101-401

JSM

JSM

Active member
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

Anybody got a honda or foreign car laying around, we could measure those carriers and maybe try to retrofit that in there.
 
Andrew S

Andrew S

New member
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

^ This is something I've been doing a bit of research on. There has to be a way to do this. If I find anything useful I'll be sure to post it up.

Thanks for posting all the part numbers. I'm right in the middle of rebuilding one and that saved me a lot of time.

The Rubbing isolation bushings are really starting to crack and get hard. I was thinking about making up some delrin replacements. Any opinions about using delrin instead of rubber?
DSC_4606.jpg



V which one?
 
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JSM

JSM

Active member
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

I suspect Delrin would be fine, actually I highly suspect it would be fine.

I did not see any eaton's for our 7.2" IFS listed and doubt any major company has plans to release one at this point.

I also learned what I thought was a front diff turned out to be a loose bolt on the rear disc backing plates that worked its way into the parking brake drum area. OOOPS. 10 minute fix but I took 4 hrs of crap apart to find it. The inside of my front diff was spotless.
 
M

MAK

New member
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

It was great to find this. It looks like my differential sprung a naste leak and will need some attention right away. I am guessing the seal went out.

Thanks for the helpful information.
 
Don W.

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

Does anyone by chance have the part number for the drivers side seal retainer? Mine leaks and I'm tired of trying to fix it.
 
atomicmecha

atomicmecha

I hate rust
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

There wouldn't happen to be a single kit one could buy to rebuild our front diffs? Instead of going to several places for all the parts. Would make it easy.
 
alwayscode390

alwayscode390

pppssssshhhhhtttttttttttt
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

I was curious to why it seems most people just swap out the entire unit vs. rebuilding it?

Is that usually for catastrophic damage where a new case is needed also?

I am considering fixing my front differential, and would rather it be rebuilt as new vs putting one in with 70k miles or more on it. Mine broke at 70k miles LOL.

Thanks! ---
 
dgoodhue

dgoodhue

BuSTeD 4.3
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

alwayscode390 said:
I was curious to why it seems most people just swap out the entire unit vs. rebuilding it?

Is that usually for catastrophic damage where a new case is needed also?

I am considering fixing my front differential, and would rather it be rebuilt as new vs putting one in with 70k miles or more on it. Mine broke at 70k miles LOL.

Thanks! ---
Click to expand...

My observation is that It's seems like most front differentials fail from lack of oil (oil leak) or stress from a locked transfer case.
 
JSM

JSM

Active member
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

DaveP said:
I'll add that because these are so fussy to set up correctly, that I don't trust that they can be rebuilt "as new" with the correct pattern and bearing preloads regardless of how much care the tech puts into it because there are too many special tools and fixtures required. The guy isn't going to have them, so he'll ad-lib, and the results will be less than desirable. They will never be "as new" once they come apart, because no one has the tools, experience, or patience to do it as well as the production line did.

Another reason they're changed-out rather than damaged parts replaced as required is cost. A ring and pinion alone is more than a used differential at the wrecking yard. Then add in the bearings, seals, and labor and you've spent $1,000 to replace a $250 junkyard unit.

Keep in mind that if you get a front diff out of a 4X4 (not a Bravada, SyTy or other AWD) especially a non-snow country 4X4, the front diff will have very light use on it. Front diffs in Southwestern 4X4's don't spend much time in 4-wheel drive. Swap the passenger side axle and tube with the AWD parts, and run it.

There. I added some not-to ideas to Jeff's how-to thread.
Click to expand...

Best part is I agree with you and when I started this I thought I had a diff issue, which was not the case and never did fully rebuild one.
 
G

glocklimited9

New member
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

Twinturbo, thats alot of good info and parts list.

My friend owns a machine shop and he made a solid spacer for me, and if i get a few people that show interest in them i can have a few more made up.

These front ends are fussy and you Do need some special tools, but they are certainly not impossible. My father has done two before mine, one in my cousins 93 Ty that was modified and he put over 100,000 trouble free miles on it and that had a ton of mods, big stall, and built trans that really shifted hard( lots of shock on drivetrain) , The other was on a friends Sy, 60+ K miles and no issues. Both had the solid spacers.

Like any highperformance car or truck maintenance is key and like Dgoodhue said fluid is a big issue, adding a drain is a big plus and changing the fluid every 30K or so is not a bad idea.

With more guys pushing the horsepower bar, and swapping big power LSx swaps in their trucks, upgrading is never a bad idea. The front diff in my Ty after 140k was beat to hell, and it didn't make a ton of power.

With these trucks being 20+ years old and most of them having 100k+ miles on them as strong as they might be, you cant stop bearing wear, seals from leaking,spider gears from wearing. Its pretty rare to see an early 90s vehicle in the JY with less then 100k on it.. Cars/ trucks go to junkyards for a reason, and even and the stuff ive seen people to do cars they knew they junking is harsh. Ive seen too many people waste time and money pulling and installing junkyard parts only to find out they were no good.. Time is money and that money can be spent rebuilding your front diff to better then new condition.

We rebuilt it with a solid spacer, stronger yukon spider gears, and ARP ring bolts, its ready to take a thrashing. Ill try to post a thread on it today if i have some free time while some paint dries

Heres the solid spacer

5f3b886e.jpg
 
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atkonkler

atkonkler

Is this your bush?
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

TwinTurboV8Ty said:
Best part is I agree with you and when I started this I thought I had a diff issue, which was not the case and never did fully rebuild one.
Click to expand...
What did turn out to be the issue with your truck anyways? Just doing some reading. ..and thinking....
 
canadian

canadian

sy in progress
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

atkonkler said:
what did turn out to be the issue with your truck anyways? Just doing some reading. ..and thinking....
Click to expand...

twinturbov8ty said:
i also learned what i thought was a front diff turned out to be a loose bolt on the rear disc backing plates that worked its way into the parking brake drum area. Ooops. 10 minute fix but i took 4 hrs of crap apart to find it. The inside of my front diff was spotless.
Click to expand...


fyi.
 
atomicmecha

atomicmecha

I hate rust
Re: Front Diff Tech 101-401

instead of starting a new thread, figured it'd make more sense to ask here... but if the front diff is leaking a little, you dont need to rebuild the whole thing right? Just replace the axle seals? I'm going to take the whole thing out (it'll be easy considering I'll already have both front ends completely off for the control arm, steering, and hub replacement project). The leak is very mild. Like bad enough to keep it wet along the bottom of the diff, but not enough to leave a wet spot on the ground when it's been parked for a few days. Also plan on draining and refilling it with fresh fluid while its out. Don't need to crack it open for that do I?
 
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